Method of treating almonds



A121, 1923. 465,829 G. W. PIERCE METHOD OF TREATING ALMONDS Fil ed Feb. 16. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheeflt a Ki 1 Q) I g in x i N I 2% 5 n r |HA Hg. 21, 1923. 1,465,829 @G. W. PIERCE METHOD OF TREATING ALMONDS Filed Feb. 16,1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 ATTORNEYS.

- a ends to the direct-action of jets of live .sulphurfumes when subjected to bleaching,

a bleaching apparatus in better condition for Patented Angel, 1923;

GEORGE W. PIERCE, 03? DAVIS, CALIFOR assmnoa e0 camronivm i GROWEBS EXCHANGE, OF SANv FRANCISGO, CALIFORNIA, BL CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

nn'rnon or TREATING ALMONDS.

Application filed February 1%, 1922. .Serial No. 536,911.

To all whom. it may concern:

Bewit known that'l, Gnome W. PIERCE, a citizen of the Unimd States, residing at Davis, in the county of Yolo and. State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Treating Almonds, of which the following is a.

specification.

The present invention relates to the treatment of almonds preliminarily to the-bleaching thereof, the object thereof being to dampen and moisten the almonds so as to render the shell more susceptible tothe' action of the sulphur fumes during the bleaching of the almonds and further for a sterilization of "theyalmonds to be bleached in order to destroy all germ life.

The methodinvention resides in advancing of almonds asa continuous flow stream through a cylinder or drum maintained in rotation, retarding the flow ofthe stream of almonds while maintaining the same under a itation', subjecting the moving body of steam for the sterilization thereof and a moistening of" the shells to render-gthe almonds more susceptible to the edects of the Under this method of treating the a monds preliminaril to the bleaching thereof, the same are p aced in better condition for bleaching than heretofore and leave the marketing, while at the same time-all germ life is destroyed which insures the keeping of the almonds without danger of becoming worm eaten.

The apparatus for a carrying out of the method invention is disclosed in the accom-.

panying sheets of drawings, wherein Figure 1 isa side view of the apparatus partly broken away.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus.

Figure 3 is a sectional end elevation taken from the feed end of the apparatus and viewed in the direction of the arrow,.Fi'gure cylinder or drum 2, which stands at a slight downward inclination toward its discharge end. This cylinder or drum in the present case is formed of corrugated galvanized iron and the same is supported 'exteriorly by tread rollers 3-4 mounted in bearings of the semi-cylindrical or cradle supporting brackets 56 secured to the frame structure adjacent the feed and discharge end portions respectively of the cylinder or drum 2. The tread rollers 3 -4 bear onto the flanged tread rings Y- -B'secured to and encircling the cylinder or drum 2 adjacent its end portions and the thrust ofthe said cylg inder during its rotary movement is taken care of by the thrust rollers 9;.which act against the outstanding flange 10 of the tread ring 8. The outer face of the flange 10 of the tread ring 8 is formed into a gear ring 11, which meshes with a pinion 12 secured to the inner end of a short shaft 13 adapted to be coupled to a power driven belt pulley 14 through the medium of a hand actuated clutch 15, the pulley 14 being driven from any suitable source of power means.

The cylinder or "drum 2- is provided 'interiorly with a continuous helical conveyer fiight' 15,- which: serves during the rotary movement of the said cylinder or drum to gradually move or advance the almonds therethrough from its feed toward the discharge end thereof, the said helical conveyor flight 'retardin or checking the free flow action of the a onds. During their course of travel through the cylinder or drum, the almonds are thoroughly agitated and turned over and over.

Within the cylinder or drum 2 is extended a perforated spray pipe 16 through which live steam is forced under pressure, which escapes therefrom within the drum as jet streams. The steam thus ejected from the perforated spray pipe lfi is directed onto the almonds as advanced through the cylinder or drum, dampening and moistening their shells to render the same more susceptible to eflect of the sulphur fumes when the almonds are subjected toth e bleachin process, while at the same time the hig temperature of the live steam ejected or sprayed 105 onto thealmonds sterilizes the same and destroys all germ life.

' The feed end of the cylinder: or drum 2 is closed by a drum head 17 provided with acentral opening 18 through which is exuse tended the steam spray pipe 16, as well as the lower end of the almond feed chute 19.

' the almonds are conveyed therethrough as a continuous stream of retarded movement, the time required for the almonds in passing through the cylinder or drum being regulated by the speed at which the same is rotated per minute or by the spacing of the spiral divisions of the conveyer arranged therein,or' by extending or shortening the length of the cylinder or drum;

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is A continuous method of treating almonds.

continuous flow stream through a cylinder or drum maintained in rotation, retardingthe flow of the stream of almonds While the a 25 same are under agitation, and continuously subjecting the moving body of almonds underagitation to the direct action of jets .of

live steam to penetrate the shell, sterilize the same and sterilize t'he 'meats.

name to this specification.

. GEORGE W. PIERCE.

20 which consists in'advanc'ing the same in a In testimony whereof I have signed my 30 

